Replica, temporary and permanently inoperable weapons

Replicas​

A replica weapon is a reasonable facsimile or copy of a weapon, even if it is not capable of discharging a projectile or substance, or a Category A, B or C weapon that has been rendered permanently inoperable or a hand grenade that is inert.

For Category A, B, C and H non-firing replica weapons, no weapons licence is required.

Restrictions apply to other categories of non-firing replicas.  Inquiries should be made with Weapons Licensing before buying any non-firing replicas.

Refer to section 6A of the Weapons Act 1990 for further information.

Temporarily inoperable

Whenever a firearm is not being used it must be made temporarily inoperable, meaning that it is in a state such that a projectile cannot be fired. 

This generally entails making the firing mechanism inoperable, e.g. removing the bolt. 

When the firearm is required for use, the action may be restored which renders the firearm operable.

A firearm is made temporarily inoperable when:

• for a firearm designed to allow its bolt, breech block, firing pin or other integral part of the firing mechanism to be removed – if the part is removed and securely stored separately from the firearm, or
• for another firearm – if the firearm’s trigger is secured by a trigger lock and the lock’s key is securely stored separately from the firearm.

Section 8 of the Weapons Act 1990 provides information as to how a firearm is made temporarily inoperable.

Permanently inoperable

In some cases (e.g. for collectors) it may be necessary to have a weapon rendered permanently inoperable to meet the conditions of a licence. This means that the firearms will be made incapable of being discharged in a manner that is irreversible. Proof that a firearm has been rendered permanently inoperable will need to be supplied to Weapons Licensing.

A licensed armourer is the only person authorised to render a firearm permanently inoperable, or certify that a weapon already is permanently inoperable. They can provide documentation confirming this (a form 31).​

To obtain a certificate of a firearm/weapon being permanently inoperable you must present your firearm to the armourer to be rendered permanently inoperable or to be inspected and confirmed as permanently inoperable.

Once a firearm has been rendered permanently inoperable, or confirmed to be so, the licensed armourer will provide you with a completed form 31 – 'certificate of a firearm/weapon being permanently inoperable'. You must forward this form to Weapons Licensing.

Making a firearm permanently inoperable

Making a firearm permanently inoperable means the firearm has been permanently altered in a prescribed manner to ensure that a projectile can no longer be fired from that firearm.

To render a firearm permanently inoperable the following actions could be taken:

• If the firing pin can be removed as a separate item: the pin must be removed and the end of the pin hole nearest the chamber must be closed with weld.
• If the firing pin cannot be removed as a separate item: the pin must be ground or cut so that it cannot strike a round of ammunition in the chamber.
• The chamber must be made incapable of taking a round of ammunition by welding a steel insert into the end of the chamber or welding a steel rod vertically across the chamber.
• The firing mechanism must be immobilised by welding its internal components together and to the trigger.

Schedule 4 of the Weapons Regulation 2016 details the ways of modifying a firearm to make it permanently inoperable.

Alternative approval by an authorised officer

An authorised officer may, on written application, give the applicant written approval to make a particular firearm or type of firearm incapable of being discharged, in a stated way.

If you wish to apply for alternative approval, please submit a letter in writing to the authorised officer, Weapons Licensing, detailing what methods that would be used to render the firearm permanently inoperable.

For further information, refer to section 7 of the Weapons Act 1990 and Section 159 and Schedule 4 of the Weapons Regulation 2016.